THE EFFECTIVITY OF ACAPULCO (Senna alata) LEAVES AS

ANTIFUNGAL SOAP

A Research Project

Presented to the Faculty and Staff of

SAN ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

San Isidro, Isabela

In partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

In Grade 8 Research I

Presented by:

KRIZ SABIAN U. BALONES

PRINCESS JANE D. VALEROSO
RIA JHOREEN M. TUMAMAO
JEFFERSON R. TUMANENG
ELY JOHN M. RAGOS
WILSON MAR A. VIRAY
 ABSTRACT

This aims to prove that Acapulco leaves can be used as antifungal Treatment

for different skin diseases and can prove the effectiveness of Acapulco Leaves as

antifungal soap and determine if the Acapulco leaves was effective.

Senna alata is locally known as Acapulco in the Philippines where it is used

as both an ornamental and medicinal plant due to its laxative, purgative and

antifungal properties. Almost all parts of the plant have medicinal use decoctions of

the flowers, leaves, and bark are used to treat skin diseases such,as eczema or pruitis

(itching) while a decoction of the wood is useful in cases of constipation.

Acapulco has been found to be both a laxative and diuretic. This means that

it can help induce the release of unwanted waste out of your body. It also promotes

perspiration which is another of releasing toxins and unwanted fluid out of your

body. Acapulco leaves contain chrysophanic acid. It is a fungicide used to treat

different fungal infections like eczema, ringworms, and scabies.

 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The Acapulco plant is usually harvested from fields so you can put to

medicinal use its seeds, flowers, and leaves. Since it is broadly cultivated acapulco

may be source even from the local horticulturists. You can also grow it at home.

Some people may have an allergic reaction. Acapulco is commonly used an

antifungal and antibacterial treatment for different skin diseases like ringworms,

Scabies, eczema, insect bites, skin itchiness/inflammation and other skin Infections.

Acapulco herbal medicine uses and preparation has become very popular

over the years. It is commercially prepared in the form of capsule, powder, and

tincture. Some even add it lotions and soaps. You can also make the Acapulco Plant

into an ointment and apply it on affected skin.

The Acapulco plants contains a certain form of amino acid called canavanine

that may aggravate the grave symptoms of auto-immune diseases like Lupus.

Acapulco also contains vitamin K, which is an essential vitamin and plays an

important role in the blood coagulation process. If you are taking anticoagulants or

other vitamin K- containing drug. You should consult a doctor before using this

Herb to test your condition.

Statement of the Problem

  Is acapulco soap effective as an antifungal soap?

 Is acapulco soap effective in treating fungal diseases?

 How effective is acapulco soap in treating diseases?

Significance of the Study

The Acapulco plant heavily contains chrysopanol or chrysopanal acid known

to be very effective for students, researchers, and society in treating various skin

conditions like scabies, eczema, and ringworms.

The Acapulco plants is safe for use to students and researchers, especially for

adults. It is usually harvested from fields and seeds, flowers, and leaves can put to

medicinal uses.

Many researchers already tired and make acapulco plant as soap because of

its antifungal properties. It grows easily and contains many benefits to humans.

Decoctions of the leaves, flowers, and bark are used to treat skin diseases such as

eczema or pruitis (itching). And decoction of the used of the wood is useful in cases

of constipation. Almost all of acapulco plants are useful and its good at treating skin

diseases.

Scope and Delimitation

 This study focuses only on the effectivity of the Acapulco (Senna alata)

leaves as antifungal soap.

The Acapulco (Senna alata) leaves as antifungal soap will be rated using a

survey form by the chosen respondents.

There will be thirty (30) respondents in this study. The different respondents

have different ages ranging from 13-17. The respondents will rate Acapulco (Senna

alata) leaves as antifungal soap based on the given criteria. The criteria to test and

rate the Acapulco (Senna alata) leaves as antifungal soap will be based on its

appearance, color, packaging, odor, shininess, and texture.

This will be conducted at the researchers house at Gomez, San Isisdro,

Isabela starting October to November 2022.

Statement of Hypothesis

 Alternate Hypothesis

There are significant differences in the effect of Acapulco (Senna alata)

leaves as anti-fungal soap.

 Null Hypothesis

There are no significant differences in the effect of Acapulco (Senna alata)

leaves as anit- fungal soap.

 TREATMENTS

T0:
Safeguard soap (Guava scent)

T1:
30ml of Acapulco leaves extract + 100g soap base + 2.5ml Colorant + 1ml fragrance

T2:
60ml of Acapulco leaves extract + 100g soap base + 2.5ml Colorant + 1ml fragrance

T3:
90ml of Acapulco leaves extract + 100g soap base +2.5ml Colorant +1ml fragrance

CHAPTER II
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the findings of the researchers with regards to the

review of related literature and studies on “THE EFFECTIVITY OF

ACAPULCO(Senna alata) AS ANTI-FUNGAL SOAP.

Local and Foreign Literature

Taxonomy

Table 1.Taxonomy of Senna alata

Kingdom Plantae

Phylum Vascular Plant

Class Dicotyledons

Order Fabales

Family Legumes

Genus Senna

Species Senna Alata

Botany
 Leguminosae family members include the medical plant senna alata. It is

found in tropical and wet areas. Typhoid, diabetes, malaria, asthma, ringworm, tinea

infections, scabies, blotch, herpes, and eczema are just a few of the conditions that

the plant is traditionally used to cure. The plant shrub that typically grows 1 to 2 m

tall but can also grow up to 5m tall. Its branches Re spread out horizontally. The

leaves are paripinnate, 30-60 cm long, with 8-20 pairs of oblong-or elliptic-oblong-

shaped, rounded-at-both-ends, 5-15 by 3-7 cm, glabrous leaflets making up each

leaflet.

The 2-3 mm long petioles are substantial.

Flowers are arranged in dense axillary recemes that at are 20 to 50 cm long

and 3 to 4 cm wide. The caduceus bracts mesure 1-2 by 2-3 cm in width. The

pedicels are only 2 to 4 meters long. There are five uneven, oblong, green sepals that

measures 10-20 by 6-7 mm. Bright yellow, ovate-orbicular to spathulate, short-

clawed, and measuring 2 by 1-1.5 cm are the petals.There are 2 large, 4 small, 3 to

4 medium, and 9 to 10 stame

Chemical Content

T0:
Safeguard (Guava and Calamansi extract)

T1:
10ml of Acapulco extract, 30g of Soap base, 1ml of Colorant, and 3 droplets of
fragrance

T2:
15ml of Acapulco extract, 30g of Soap base, 1ml of Colorant, and 3 droplets of
fragrance

T3:
20ml of Acapulco extract, 30g of Soap base, 1ml of Colorant, and 3 droplets of
fragrance

RESPONDENTS

T0
T1: 4 Respondents
T2: 4 Respondents
T3: 4 Respondents
Description

Senna alata is locally known as “Acapulco” in the Philippines where it was

used as both ornamental and medical plant due to its laxative, purgative, and anti-

fungal properties. Senna alata is a medical herb of Leguminosae family.It is

distributed in the tropical and humid regions. The plant is traditionally used in the

Description. Treatment of typhoid, diabetes, malaria, asthma, ringworms, tinea

infections, scabies, blotch, herpes, and eczema. Senna alata is an important medical

tree, as well as an ornamental flowering plant in the subfamily Caesalpiniodeae. It is

also known as emperor’s candlesticks, candle bush, candelabra bush, Christmas

candles, empress candle plant, ringworm shrub, or candletree. Different parts of the

plant are reported in folk medicine as therapeutic substances for remediation of

diverse diseases and infections. The extracts and isolated compounds displayed

pronounced pharmacological activities. Display of antibacterial, antioxidant,

antifungal, dermatophytic.

Local Literature

The island and municipality of Capul, in the Philippines, derives its name

from Acapulco. Acapulco was the eastern end of the trans-Pacific sailing route from

the Acapulco to manila, in what was then a Spanish colony. Herbal medicine is a

growing and innovative field in Philippine dermatology. There is a need to assess

the quality of reporting of published herbal randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in

dermatology since these will serve to guide rational development and use of

medicinal plants in the Philippines. Superficial fungal skin infections are prevalent
in tropical countries, and are commonly caused by pathogenic dermatophytes

(Trichophyton spp., Epidermophyton spp., and microsporum spp.), and normal skin

commensals such as Malassezia ssp. And candida albicans. Dermatophytes are

keratinase-producing fungi that are capable of invading and reproducing within the

keratinized tissue of hair, nails, and skin. 1 These may be transmitted via contact

with infected humans, animals, or through exposure with contaminated soil. Tinea

versicolor (also known as pityriasis versicolor) is caused by lipophilic Malassezia

yeats, which are normal skin commensals. Candida albicans is also part of the

normal flora of the skin, but may cause cutaneous candidiasis particularly in

immunocompromised individuals. Dermatophytosis, particularly tinea carporis, is

one of the 10 most common skin conditions at the Philippine general hospita’s

section of dermatology. Based on the health information system of the Philippine

dermatological society last 2017, dermatophytosis is the 2 nd most common diagnosis

seen among both new and old patients. It is extremely pruritic, highly contagious,

and the treatment can be lengthy and costly. Tinea versicolor is usually

asymptomatic; however, the skin discoloration and highly recurrent course pose

cosmetic concerns for the patient. Lastly, although candidiasis is rarely associated

with significant morbidity in healthy hosts, it may become persistent and

disseminate systemically in immunocompromised individuals. There are several

treatment options for tinea versicolor and dermatophytosis. These include kertolytic

agents like selenium sulphide, propulene glycol, and salicylic acid, which act by

facilitating removal of affected skin. Drugs that work by inhibiting the cytochrome

p450-dependent conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol. Such as sodium thiosulfate

and ketoconazole. Disrupt fungal cell membrane and subsequent leakage of cerllular

contents. Terbinafine, an allylamine, inhibits squalene epoxidase, the enzyme

necessary for the conversion of sualene to lanosterol, thus preventing synthesis of

ergosterol. Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (syn. Cassia alata) (family

Leguminosae/Fabaceae) or candle bush is an indigenous plant of central America

and known in the Philippine as Acapulco. S. alata has long been purpoted to have

antifungal property and has been studied in several clinical trials regarding its effect

on superficial fungal infections such as dermatopytosis and tinea versicolor. In vitro

studies showed that crude methanol and ethanol extracts of S. alata, inhibit growth

of Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis, and Candida albacans.

According to an in vitro study, anthraquinone aglycones and anthraquinone

aglycosides, identified through thin layer chromatography of crude ethanol extracts,

are responsible for S. alata’s antifungal activity. S. alata is one of the ten medicinal

plants approved for use by the Philippine’s Department of Health. The plant is

readily accessible throughout the Philippines, commonly known to the layperson as

a household treatment for skin fungal diseases, and a cheaper alterntive to the more

costly azoles and allylamines (leading drugstore, 93 php per 15 gram tube).

Although there are numerous studies available, treatment effects are uncertain. A

systematic review was done in order to collate existing data regarding efficacy and

safety of S. alata as an antifungal.

Infections caused by invasive fungal species continue to rise due to various

contributing factors including the changes in the environmental and weather

conditions, lifestyle, the occurrence of natural disasters, and the weakened human

immune system. Even though synthetic drugs effectively cure fungal diseases, their

unwanted side effects, as well as the rapid rise resistance, have compelled

researchers to develop new antifungal agents. Several medicinal plants are

folklorically known to have antifungal activities. Among the traditionally used

antifungal herbal plants is senna alata, commonly known as Acapulco and ringworm

bush. In the current review, phytochemical analysis and numerous non-clinical

studies on Acapulco have been performed and confirmed its activity against several

fungi pathogenic to humans. Anthraquinone compound seemed to be major

phytochemicals, responsible for its antifungal activity. In the Philippines, clinical

trials have also confirmed its utility as a topical agent in treating cutaneous fungal

infections. Research gaps that need to be addressed include the determination of the

exact molecular mechanisms of their fungal killing action. Diseases and infections

caused by invasive fungal species have continued to rise and emerge.

Changes in the environment, different lifestyles, the shifting weather

conditions ability of the fungi to alter its virulence factors, compromised immune

system of the host, seasonal migration, and occurrence of natural disasters were

cited as the major contributing factors for fungal invasion. Majority of the reports

for infections were due to newly discovered fungi and even re-emerging fungal

pathogens that can reconstruct their virulence factors. In the Philippines, the warm

and humid tropical climate, and the age, type of occupation, genetic susceptibility,

and immune sensitivity of the Filipinos favor fungal infection pervasiveness. The

most common fungal infection cases in the country include pityriasis versicolor

(25.34%), tinea corporis (22.63%), tinea cruris (16.7%), and tinea pedis (16.38%) 3;

in 2017, 1.9% of the population suffers from serious fungal infections. Countering

the effect and spread of fungal infections, commercially available antifungal drugs

such as the polyenes (amphotericin B) and azoles (fluconazole, itraconazole,

voriconazole, and posaconazole) disrupt fungal cell was stability and destroy the
pathogen’s homeostasis causing osmotic stress. Amphotericin B is the major choice in

treating fungal cystitis, peritonitis, dermatoses, and intraocular infections and is

effective against Candida albicans, by binding to the plasma membrane component

ergosterol causing cell leakage and death. On the other hand, azoles, a group of broad-

spectrum fungistatic agents, inhibit the enzymes for ergosterol synthesis, an important

enzyme for fungal cell wall biosynthesis. While deemed effective, these synthetic drugs

have features that limit their use. The nephrotoxicity caused by Amphotericin B9 ,10 is

a well-known side effect; in the use of azoles, it requires cytochrome P450-induced

oxidative metabolism to be eliminated from the body. Other reported side effects of

azoles were nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, skin infections,occasional

increase in liver serum enzymes, pruritus, hepatotoxicity, and gynecomastia.

Considering that these synthesized drugs have their share of negative side

effects and are expensive, and that fungi continually develop resistance against

them, the search for alternative sources of therapy is necessary. Medicinal plants

have long been used as a source of bioactive compounds for modern medications.

Those with folkloric use as an antifungal aid were most likely candidates for the

discovery of treatments for fungal infections. Among the plants traditionally used

for fungal infection is Senna alata (Linn.) Roxb. ( synonym Cassia alata Linn.) of

the Family Fabaceae/Leguminosae), more commonly known as akapulko, ringworm

bush, Christmas candle, candle brush, or calabra brush.

In vitro studies showed that akapulko had antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,

anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-tumor and anti-malarial

properties. The most extensively studied property of akapulko was its antifungal

ability. In the Philippines, ointments and soaps were formulated to target skin fungal

diseases. Specifically, there is a wide range in the activities observed using agar well
diffusion and broth dilution method. Different studies also had varying results,

which could probably be due to the differences in the environmental and laboratory

conditions during the in vitro testing, type of soil used where the plant was

cultivated, weather conditions during the time of sampling, and even the species of

fungi being tested. It can also be observed that isolating a specific compound and

using it to kill the fungal species showed lower activity compared with the crude

extract.

In the Philippines, several clinical trials and formulations were done in

hospitals and laboratories to determine the efficacy of akapulko in human fungal

infections. A systematic review was recently performed involving seven randomized

controlled trials (RCT) wherein patients were treated with formulations of akapulko

then compared with other antifungal agents. There was a comparable mycologic

cure between akapulko and 25% sodium thiosulfate in four RCTs. The two RCTs

showed an efficacy similar to terbinafine and ketoconazole. Adverse effects were

mild in all treatment groups.

Foreign Literature

Acapulco de Juárez , commonly called Acapulco, is a city and major seaport

in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, 380 kilometers (240 mi)

south of Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semicircular bay and has been

a port since the early colonial period of Mexico's history. It is a port of call for

shipping and cruise lines running between Panama and San Francisco, California,

United States. The city of Acapulco is the largest in the state, far larger than the state

capital Chilpancingo. Acapulco is also Mexico's largest beach and balneario resort

city. Acapulco de Juárez is the municipal seat of the municipality of Acapulco.

 The city is one of Mexico's oldest beach resorts, coming into prominence in

the 1940s through the 1960s as a getaway for Hollywood stars and millionaires.

Acapulco was once a popular tourist resort, but due to a massive upsurge in gang

violence and homicide numbers since 2014, Acapulco no longer attracts many

foreign tourists, and most now only come from Mexico itself. It is both the sixth

deadliest city in Mexico and the seventh-deadliest city in the world; the US

government has warned its citizens not to travel there. In 2016 there were 918

murders, and the homicide rate was one of the highest in the world: 103 in every

100,000. In September 2018 the city's entire police force was disarmed by the

military, due to suspicions that it has been infiltrated by drug gangs.

The resort area is divided into three parts: the north end of the bay and

beyond is the "traditional" area, which encompasses the area from Parque Papagayo

through the Zócalo and onto the beaches of Caleta and Caletilla, the main part of the

bay known as "Zona Dorada" ('golden zone' in Spanish), where the famous in the

mid-20th century vacationed, and the south end, "Diamante" ('diamond' in Spanish),

which is dominated by newer luxury high-rise hotels and condominiums. The name

"Acapulco" comes from Nahuatl language Aca-pōl-co, and means "where the reeds

were destroyed or washed away" or "at the big reeds", which inspired the city's seal,

which is an Aztec-type glyph showing two hands breaking reeds. The "de Juárez"

was added to the official name in 1885 to honor Benito Juárez, former president of

Mexico (1806–1872).

It is traditionally used as a laxative, purgative, and as treatment for skin

problems. The commonly used parts were the leaves, bark, stem, root, pod, and

seeds; however, the majority of the documented reports used the leaves and the
roots. The leaves were said to be sudorific, diuretic and purgative, and its decoction

can treat bronchitis and asthma. On the other hand, the roots were traditionally used

as a pain reliever for dysmenorrhea, stomach pain during pregnancy, dysentery,

convulsion, heart failure, edema, jaundice, and paralysis in tropical Africa.

The plant Senna alata (Linn) Roxb. synonymous with Cassia alata

(Leguminosae), is commonly distributed in Asia, Brazil, Australia, and many

African nations, including Egypt, Somalia, and Nigeria. The plant is a tropically

erect annual herb that grows up to 2–5 m high. It possesses big, leathery, and

slippery compound bilateral leaves that usually fold at night . It has a pod fruit with

small and square-shaped seeds. In English, this medicinally important plant is called

candle bush, craw-craw, Acapulco or ringworm bush plant. The local names of the

plant are Asunwon oyinbo in Yoruba, Nelkhi in Igbo, and Hantsi in the Hausa

languages of Nigeria. The plant is used as herbal preparation to manage hepatitis,

gastroenteritis, constipation, dermatitis, eczema, jaundice, diarrhea, and bacterial

infections. The plant’s leaves, stems, and roots have been ingested as a decoction to

treat wounds, the respiratory tract, and skin infections in Northern Nigeria.

Additionally, in Cameroon, the leaves, stems, and bark of S. alata were documented

to be used to treat gastroenteritis and skin infections.Its leaves, bark, and stem are

effective against intestinal parasitosis and syphilis as a decoction in China, the

Philippines, and India. Keeping in view the ethnopharmacological indication and

promising therapeutic properties of S. alata for treating infectious ailments, this

study was conducted to screen the leaves extracts of S. alata for activity against

MRSA, and identify the bioactive compounds likely responsible for the activity.
Related Literature

Senna alata (Linn) Roxb. plant is widely used to manage various infections

in folkloric medicine. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection

continues to be a major global public health problem. This study aims to investigate

the bioactive components of S. alata leaves active against MRSA. The leaves of S.

alata were sequentially extracted and fractionated using standard methods and

screened for activities against MRSA. The diethyl ether active thin layer

chromatography (TLC) spot was subjected to infrared (IR) and gas chromatography-

mass spectroscopic (GC-MS) studies. The aqueous extract and diethyl ether fraction

of S. alata leaves elicited the highest activity against the MRSA. The GC-MS

analysis of the fraction produced 15 eluates; only the sub-fraction 13 was effective.

The TLC analysis of the sub-fraction 13 revealed three spots; only the second spot

produced activity. The GC-MS result of the spot showed six peaks. The spectral

results for peak 3 match the data from the IR study, suggestive of 9-octadecenoic

acid methyl ester. Senna alata leaves possess bioactive compounds closely related to

9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester with potent antibacterial activity against MRSA.

Infectious diseases are among the top causes of global mortality, morbidity,

and disability. The pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus form a serious burden

on health due to related infections, including pneumonia, endocarditis, and sepsis.

The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most critical

multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens mostly encountered in hospitals. The global

incidence of MRSA infection has increased the burden on the health care system and

overall mortality over the years. Additionally, the MRSA infection still extends to

the community population. Due to the frequent emergence of antimicrobial

resistance, limited options are available for treating MRSA-related infections. The
ineffectiveness of the available antibacterial agents necessitates the search for new

compounds for use against resistant bacteria.

Plants have contributed to the general health and well-being of the populace

for a long time. About 75% of the people globally depend on traditional medicine

for their basic health requirements. Many therapeutic compounds employed in

orthodox medicine originate from plants. Plants synthesize various secondary

metabolites with different chemical diversity and biological actions. Plants and their

secondary metabolites have been reported to serve as sources of antimicrobial

agents. For years, attention has been shifted to investigate phytochemical

compounds with potential antibacterial activity, particularly against MDR bacteria.

Given the roles of medicinal plants in curtailing infectious diseases, there is a need

to continue the search for novel therapeutic agents to pave the way for the discovery

of new therapeutic agents.

Medicinal plants are various plants which can have being (Igbinosa et al.,

2009). Their role is two fold in the development of new drugs: (1) they may become

the base for the development of a medicine, a natural blue print for the development

of new drugs or; (2) a phytomedicine to be used for the treatment of diseases (Iwu,

1993). Different plant parts have also been used for various forms of diseases and

infections. The following plants have been reported for the treatment of the

following ailments: Garlic (Allium sativum) for dermatophytes (Wokoma et al.,

2007), Garcinia kola for respiratory tract infection and diabetes (Adeleke et al.,

2006), Sida acuta for skin infections (Ekpo and Etim, 2009). Traditional medicine is

the oldest method of curing diseases and infections and various plants have been

used in different parts of the world to treat human diseases and infections (Nweze et

al., 2004; Vineela and Elizabeth, 2005; Ekpo and Etim, 2009). According to the
World Health Organization (WHO, 2002), traditional medicine using plant extracts

continues to provide health coverage for over 80% of the world’s population,

especially in the developing world and, in African countries; this rate is much

higher. In recent years, however, medicinal plants have represented a primary health

source for the pharmaceutical industry (Ajose, 2007). No less than 400 compounds

derived from plants are currently used in the preparation of drugs, such as vincristine

and vinblastine used in the treatment of cancer (Ajose, 2007).

Recently, some higher plant products have attracted the attention of

microbiologists to search for some phytochemicals for their exploitation as

antimicrobials, such plant products would be biodegradable and safe to human

health (Kumar et al., 2008; Sugar et al., 2008; Krishnamurthy et al., 2008; Wang et

al., 2010). Furthermore, the increasing awareness on the use of medicinal plants in

industrialized countries has been traced to the development of several drugs and

chemotherapeutics from the traditionally used herbs (UNESCO, 1998). Nigerians

still depend largely on crude herbal remedies or traditional medicine. They also use

wild plants for cosmetics and perfumery. Some of these herbal remedies have been

observed to be effective in certain skin diseases (Ajose, 2007). Medicinal plants are

known to owe their curative potentials to certain biological active substances, which

exist in parts of the plants. The chemicals which are referred to as active principles

or phytochemical substances include terpenses, flavonoids, bioflavonoids,

benzophonones, xanthenes as well as some metabolites such as tannins, saponins,

cyanates, oxalate and anthrax-quinones (Ekpo and Etim, 2009). The numbers of

suitable antifungal drugs are limited.

 Selective toxicity is much more difficult to achieve in the eukaryotic fungal

cells than in prokaryotic bacteria, and although the available antifungal agents have

greater activity against fungal cells than they do against human cells, the different is

not as marked as it is for most antibacterial agents. Treatment of fungal infections is

rather Sule et al. 177 hampered by problems of solubility, stability and absorption of

the existing drugs (Cedric, 2004). Azole antifungal agents inhibit cell membrane

synthesis and also act by inhibiting lanoterol (14-demethylase), an important

enzyme in sterol biosynthesis. Ketoconazole has become the agent of choice for

many serious fungal infections like ringworm (dermatophytes) while Ketoconazole

and Miconazole are full preparations, which are also use for fungal infections

(Cedric, 2004).

However, the more current and most effective antibiotics (antifungal) are

very expensive and out of reach of many Africans, majority of whom reside in the

rural areas. These antibiotics are also associated with some serious side effects. A

medicinal plant, such as S. alata L., is readily available and affordable.S. alata Linn

(fabaceae) is an ornamental shrub, which grows well in forest areas of West Africa

(Owoyale et al., 2005). S. alata L. plants contain a group of phytochemicals like

saponin, alkaloid, steroid, flavonoid, tannin, phenol and carbohydrate (Akinyemi et

al., 2000). These chemical compounds are well known for their laxative and

pharmacological effects on humans and animals. Stem bark of S. alata L. is used to

treat fungal infections such as ringworm. It is a common ingredient in soaps,

shampoos and lotions because of its antifungal properties. The ethanolic extract of

the stem bark of S. alata L. could be fungistatic in which it inhibit fungi

multiplication but not necessarily kill them. The ethanolic extract could also be

fungicidal causing cell death and lysis. The action may also be against protein
synthesizing machinery or against an enzyme involved in nucleic acid synthesis

(Dawang, 2005). S. alata L. is locally used in Nigeria in the treatment of several

infections, which include ringworm, parasitic skin diseases. The leaves are reported

to be useful in treating convulsion, veneral diseases (syphilis and gonorrhoea), heart

failure, abdominal pains, oedema, stomach problems, fever, asthma, snake bite and

is also used as a purgative (Owoyale et al., 2005). The effectiveness of S. alata L.

against skin diseases was confirmed by modern scientific studies (Makinde et al.,

2007). In Kwara State, Nigeria, Senna alata was investigated for fungi activity

(Owoyale et al., 2005).

The phytochemical components such as alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins,

tannins, terpenes, steroids, flavonoids, carbohydrates have been investigated for

their therapeutic potency (Owoyale et al., 2005). This study was carried out with the

aim of contributing to previous work or the list of plants used for treatment of

infections. This study therefore reports on the phytochemical properties and in-vitro

antifungal activity of S. alata Linn. crude stem bark extract on dermatophytes